Keys to 2010: courage, resolve, commitment

From Cal State Fullerton & USC

Fie on new year's resolutions. Here's to a lot more good old-fashioned resolve, instead, for the start of a new decade. And there's nothing to put a little perspective on what's important in life than to see its fragility and how some folks stand up to its hardships. Take the science lecturer in Fullerton who has learned she has a rare and debilitating disease. It's robbing her of her sight and soon it may damage her body so much that she's unsure how long she has to live. But she's got high goals in sight before worse things happen. A lifetime adventurer, she hopes to scale Mt. Everest while she can.

Meantime, a Trojan expert has advice to those who will tip-toe toward 2010, trepidatious over lordy knows what. He urges his fellow Americans to get over their manufactured fears, to look at data and reality and to stop fretting over the dangers of air travel (you're safer in the sky than in a car, dearies), the risks of terrorism or teen whack-jobs creating school mayhem (you're more likely to be hit by lightening than to be harmed by either) and other sundry, pervasive modern scares.

And if a year end review of a decidedly personal matter turns up the prospect of checking a box on that California driver's license, well, do it now and this year. Agree, that is, to be an organ donor. It's a gift of life and the need is giant, with just 1.200 patients in the Golden State receiving transplants after getting on a waiting list of 20,000. How does this all work, especially for the families whose loved ones are donors? The folks in Irvine offer lots of information.

Photo: Larry, Cindy Abbott atop Russian peak on adventure that ailing lecturer hopes to exceed / by Scott Woolums

Rare, degenerative disease won't stop her peak ambitions 

OK, scaredy cats, time to get over many 'manufactured fears'

Organ donation: an easy gift of life for thousands awaiting aid

Comments

[Californiality]

I wish everyone would read this post and take it to heart. It's all about MANUFACTURED fears taking root and being ALLOWED to grow, needlessly. Life really is great, especially for Californians, when the truth is heeded. Happy 2010!